Thomas Paine: "Can You Hear Us Now?"

Band of Brothers..

Around 30 World War II era veterans (including one woman) were welcomed back this evening in style here in St. Cloud at the Granite VFW. 26 Patriot Guard were on hand (including yours truly) to welcome back these heroes from their Freedom Flight adventure to Washington, D.C.. These veterans, free of charge, were flown to Washington D.C., to see the WWII memorial, as well as other war memorials. Chaperones accompanied these vets, some as old as 89 years old. The chaperones, as well as a videographer who accompanied the vets on their journey, each paid his or her own way, as well as for his or her own hotel fare.

The look of happiness and gratitude were on the faces of each one of these heroes; and heroes they are. But the folks who donated their own time and treasure to make it possible for these men to take part in this excursion are also heroes, in my book.

Upon their arrival, the vets were awarded with a certificate and a book of rememberance, and this passage from Shakespeare was read:

From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

-St. Crispin's Day Speech, William Shakespeare, 1599

Ross Ueckert--an American Patriot

Ross spoke at our TEA party this past Saturday (9/12) in St. Cloud... below is a video of the speech he gave:
Mr. Ueckert was in Wadena, MN as of yesterday, and he'll continue making his eastward trek until he gets to the Lincoln Monument in D.C., in his words, "Whenever God wants me there." Mr. Ueckert's goal is to have 10,000,000 patriots join him.

After speaking with the contagiously optimistic Mr. Ueckert, that just may be an underestimate.

Follow Ross at his website, http://ourgreatwalk.com.

One of the Greatest Plays in Baseball History...

Today marks the 33-year anniversary of the event that made us double-proud to be an American--I remember being at home and watching this on WGN-TV as it happened:

To paraphrase a Simon & Garfunkel song,

~Where have you gone, Rick Monday, our nation turns its lowly eyes to you..~

h/t Chicagoray

Goosebumps...